by Ronald D. White Tribune Newspapers March 19, 2013 A new National Research Council report says the U.S. may be able to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 in light-duty cars and trucks. The highly ambitious goal could be reached, the report says, through a combination of more efficient vehicles and the use of gasoline and diesel alternatives such as bio-fuels, electricity and hydrogen. Read more…

by Brad Plumer WonkBlog The Washington Post March 16, 2013 We’ve noted before that cars and trucks in the United States have starting becoming more fuel-efficient in recent years ‚Äî after decades of stagnation ‚Äî in response to high oil prices and strict new vehicle standards. That’s one reason why U.S. oil imports have plummeted. But a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency offers the most detailed breakdown yet of this trend. Read more…

by John Voelcker Green Car Reports March 15, 2013 …According to reports in The New York Times, Scientific American, and other sources, President Obama will announce the plan during a speech today at Argonne National Laboratory, outside Chicago. While he first floated the idea during his State of the Union address in January, the proposal will flesh out the details of the subjects to be funded. Those include additional research on advanced battery chemistries and materials technologies, a broad array […]

by Luke Tonachel Natural Resources Defense Council March 15, 2013 New cars and trucks are poised to set new records in fuel efficiency according to the latest Fuel Economy Trends report from the EPA. When all the data is crunched, EPA expects the model year 2012 average to reach 23.8 mpg, a record-high level since the agency started data tracking 1975. Importantly, carbon pollution has also been reduced from new autos, dropping 13 percent from 2007 to 2012. More good […]

by Ned B. Hunter Colorado Springs Gazette March 7, 2013 Ford is quickly advancing its hybrid and electrical car programs to meet new federal fuel-efficiency standards years before the deadline. The automaker is training workers at more than 900 dealerships nationwide to sell, maintain and repair hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Two of those dealerships are in Colorado Springs. Read more…

By David Shephardson, Detroit News, March 7, 2013 Washington‚Äî Amid high gas prices, thefuel efficiencyof new cars and trucks sold in February remains at a record-high. The University of Michigan said average fuel-economy value ofnew vehiclessold in the United States in February was 24.5 mpg. This ties the record high reached in January and is up 4.4 mpg, or more than 20 percent, since October 2007, when it began monitoring. Read more…